Stockton was predictably brief in his acceptance speech, concluding by saying he was yielding to the floor to the “senator from Louisiana.” They both were very classy in their remarks. Stockton, who lives in his hometown of Spokane, Wash., spoke of Utah as a place where he’s “totally at home” and cited his relationships with former teammates and coaches as something “you can’t find anywhere else in the world.”

Malone’s speech was focused and poignant, particularly in his tribute to the late Larry H. Miller. He also expressed appreciation to former Jazz coach and executive Frank Layden for drafting him and spoke of his love and admiration for Stockton.

Malone’s biceps were threatening to split his suit sleeves, yet his stomach was as flat as his game-day glare. Stockton arrived looking cool and lean in a dark suit, the same size he wore when he retired.

“Same weight,” Stockton said. “My goal is not to change that.”

Both appeared fit enough, if not quick enough, to again play for the Jazz. Talk about a plan: Retire rich, keep your health and skip the game day shoot-arounds.

“If my life depended on it — which it don’t — but if it did, I could play a little bit,” Malone said. “But there’d be a lot of fouls. And I’m gonna foul you hard, by the way.”

“I know what he’ll look like,” Malone said on Tuesday, glancing at the door before Stockton arrived. “He’ll come in at fighting weight.”

Stockton’s rejoinder: “I (still) think about him when I’m in the weight room.” …

Malone works out several times a week, two hours at a time.

“I train because I get edgy if I go a couple of days and don’t work out,” he said.